secondhand airbag refit to vt???

[jessie-lea]

am having issues with a air bag light in vt wagon, holden have looked at it and come back with the conclusion that they need to pull it all apart to diagnose the prob an want atleast $300 to $400 just to look at it over 3 hours excluding repairs and parts. so my question is if i replace the whole airbag unit will it resolve my airbag light coming on as this seems cheaper in long run with $200 labour to holden to refit a secondhand airbag unit from wreckers costing $110.. compared to a brand new one for $690 + GST and labour...

[ausrs]

i would guess that there is nothing actually wrong with your airbags ! it will either be the clock spring (under steering wheel) or the airbag sensor has failed (under console) .or liquid has been spilt around/on one of the seat belt stalks ..no real need to go to holden ,many decent auto elecs are knowledgeable on the vt system and actually carry the clock spring in stock !

[acarmody]

First time I took my airbag off, it took me about 10 minutes.

[cander24]

i would guess that there is nothing actually wrong with your airbags ! it will either be the clock spring (under steering wheel) or the airbag sensor has failed (under console) .or liquid has been spilt around/on one of the seat belt stalks ..no real need to go to holden ,many decent auto elecs are knowledgeable on the vt system and actually carry the clock spring in stock !

I'll second this. More often than not its the srs module located under the centre console or the clockspring. Not common at all for the airbag to be at fault. If you're capable of doing the work yourself, i'd get yourself a new srs module from the wreckers and see if this fixes the light. If not, then replace the clockspring with a new one. If all else fails, i'd then look at replacing the airbag (though I doubt you'll get this far).
If you're interested, i've just wrecked a VT Calais and could supply the srs module, clockspring, airbag and a leather wrapped steering wheel for $150. PM me if you're keen.
Cheers,

Chris.

[moose man]

...get yourself a new srs module from the wreckers and see if this fixes the light. If not, then replace the clockspring with a new one. If all else fails, i'd then look at replacing the airbag ...

Ahhh, the good old 'swap stuff until it's fixed' diagnosis method.

Good to see you are keeping the wrecking trade in business - buying three times as many parts as needed, then needing to go to the mechanic in the end anyway. If holden can't fix it quickly, it's probably a wiring fault - they'd know very quickly if it was a component.

Also, your calais parts won't fit the VT wagon. Calais had side airbags, which the module is programmed for.

[jessie-lea]

well i got quoted 200 for module an clockspring from local wrecker, decided to get a second opinion and went to a diff wrecker a lil further away but the lasy was so full of pity for me buying a peice of junk car with the work ive had done in 7days she fiddled round with it an scan tool, ended up holden can go screw emselves.. she fitted a new bag.. light was still on after clearing code.. so we swapped the clockspring an cleared code.. an its stayed off and all for not a cent now my new car drives like new just needs plugs an leads an a oil change an filters which is 2moro's job while kids at kindy bye bye manicure haha thanks guys

[cander24]

Ahhh, the good old 'swap stuff until it's fixed' diagnosis method.

Good to see you are keeping the wrecking trade in business - buying three times as many parts as needed, then needing to go to the mechanic in the end anyway. If holden can't fix it quickly, it's probably a wiring fault - they'd know very quickly if it was a component.

Also, your calais parts won't fit the VT wagon. Calais had side airbags, which the module is programmed for.

With a fault present such as this case, there is no magic way to determine exactly which component is faulty unless there is something visually obvious. I simply offered a suggestion, listing in order of likelihood of the cause in my experience. A scantool such as tech2 will reset the code no worries, but will not pinpoint which component in the airbag circuitry is the cause, and the light will again soon reappear, hence why the op stated this is the advice holden gave. This is one of those scenarios where it literally is more often than not a trial and error process. VT's are notorious for this.

To the op, good to hear you got it sorted